The BSEE Initiates a Hurricane Task Force During Its Observation of Hurricane Helene in the Gulf of Mexico

As Tropical Storm Helene approaches and safety measures are implemented to remove personnel from platforms has started its Hurricane Response Team to manage activities in the Gulf.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has sent its Hurricane Response Team to the Gulf of Mexico due to offshore oil and gas companies reacting to Hurricane Helene. The focus is on the report released by BSEE on Sunday morning, September 29, which details the continued existing evacuations and preventive actions in several offshore facilities.

As per the operator's reports received by 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, staff has been evacuated from three of the production platforms which accounts for only 0.81% of the 371 offshore platforms in the Gulf. Importantly, none of the five non-dynamically positioned (DP) rigs active in the region have experienced any personnel evacuations.

Most operations persist as before, however, one DP rig has departed its location due to storm weather accounting for 4.76% of the in operation 21 DP rigs. These DP rigs remain suspended in the water using thrusters and propellers while well operations are conducted and quickly reposition when inclement climate conditions pose a risk.

Operators are using remote shut-in techniques to close valves at sea with the aim of avoiding oil and gas losses. BSEE indicates that 3.35% of oil production and 0.91% of natural gas in the Gulf are shut down for safety reasons.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene leaving space for inspections BSEE will make facility visits before operators fully restore production units with safety approvals in hand. In severe cases operators may face delays in restarting their operations.

At this juncture, BSEE is still actively engaged in the situation and working with operators to protect personnel and the surrounding marine and coastal environments.